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it·er·a·tive | \ ˈi-tə-ˌrā-tiv 
, -rə- \
, -rə- \Definition of iterative
: involving repetition: such as
a : expressing repetition of a verbal action
b : utilizing the repetition of a sequence of operations or procedures
iterative programming methods
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Examples of iterative in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web As part of its fast, iterative design process, SpaceX has already stacked SN5, the next Starship prototype.
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Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "SpaceX has fired Starship’s Raptor engine, and the vehicle still stands," 5 May 2020 Adopting a mindset of iterative growth will help combat the novel coronavirus more successfully.
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Lakshmi Ramachandran, STAT, "A service trip to Peru offers lessons for treating Covid-19 in the U.S.," 2 May 2020 An iterative process is necessary to learn to analyze the data and predict the disease’s spread.
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Siqian Shen, The Conversation, "How much coronavirus testing is enough? States could learn from retailers as they ramp up," 21 Apr. 2020 Typically, drugs and medical interventions are first tested in small clinical trials that establish safety before the most promising ones are funneled into bigger trials, in an iterative and years-long process.
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Carolyn Y. Johnson, Anchorage Daily News, "Pandemic reveals another shortcoming in preparation: Scattershot, chaotic research for treatments," 16 Apr. 2020 Further Reading SpaceX pushing iterative design process, accepting failure to go fast
The hardest part of any rocket is the engine.
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Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "Inside Elon Musk’s plan to build one Starship a week—and settle Mars," 5 Mar. 2020 Slower labor force growth and more iterative technological improvements could also have an impact.
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Jeanna Smialek, New York Times, "How Millennials Could Make the Fed’s Job Harder," 17 Feb. 2020 Developing a digital tool in a rapid, iterative fashion requires a significant change in health care’s culture.
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Simon Macgibbon, STAT, "Tech and health care need their own ‘Hippocratic oath’ to make digital health work," 23 Dec. 2019 Health care needs to be more willing to partner effectively with tech and embrace a more iterative development style.
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Simon Macgibbon, STAT, "Tech and health care need their own ‘Hippocratic oath’ to make digital health work," 23 Dec. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'iterative.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for iterative
The first known use of iterative was in the 15th century
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